Your PUD
News Release
FERC chairman: Hydropower backbone of electric infrastructure, valuable in meeting growing energy needs
Chelan County PUD
News Release
4/5/2005
Washington, DC – Calling hydropower a “backbone of our electric infrastructure,” Pat Wood, III, chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, today stated that impediments to the resource’s growth must be removed.
Chairman Wood, speaking at the National Hydropower Association’s annual conference, also recognized hydropower’s “extremely valuable” role in maintaining electric grid stability and reliability.
“There is no better example of this…than hydropower’s important role in bringing the electric grid back online following the August 2003 blackout,” stated Chairman Wood.
To help America meet its growing energy needs, Chairman Wood suggested that hydropower must achieve its full potential. In order for this to occur, the Chairman noted that:
- There must be a timely and efficient licensing process;
- Congress must provide incentives for new development at existing hydropower facilities and non-hydro dams that hold hydropower potential;
- Renewable portfolio standards must include a strong role for hydropower;
- New, non-conventional hydropower technologies must be developed and brought on-line in the near future; and
- The safety, maintenance, and integrity of existing hydropower facilities must be preserved.
Mr. Wood has been Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission since 2001. FERC is the independent regulator of the nation’s wholesale electric power industry, natural gas, oil, and refined products pipelines, as well as its hydroelectric facilities.
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The National Hydropower Association, the only national trade association exclusively dedicated to the advancement of hydropower in North America, represents approximately 140 member companies representing all sectors of the hydropower industry. Hydropower is a clean, reliable, renewable energy source that provides approximately seven percent of the United States’ electricity, and over 78 percent of its renewable energy. NHA was founded in 1983.
Steven Gotfried
202-682-1700 ext. 105 (Office)
703-475-2332 (Cell)
steven@hydro.org